ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 2/18/2003

Rockets rise up and demolish the soon to be Fakers.

Rockets by 11.

(Then they will probably lose their next three. )

 

EXACTLY!!! I do not think they will be able to fix their problems. After more than 30 games into the season...i think CHANGES need to be made.

ENOUGH OF THE EXCUSES!!! A change in the coaching staff (esp. head coach) and a couple of trades might salvage the season.

It would be a miracle if they get a winning record after the week is over.

 

actually i would be really happy even if they do not make the playoffs.

AS LONG AS THEY GET A NEW COACH AND MAKE SOME TRADES (Taylor, Collier for B.Grant; Mobley, Rice for Payton).

I'll just wait until next year. Just get rid of the coach.

 

Uh, I didn't say what you said... wanna be clear.
Actually, I was trying to poke fun at DaDakota a little bit. And I want Rudy to stick around, even if he often drives me to distraction with his substitutions.

But I wouldn't be surprised if we hammer the Lakers and then lose our next three. Our history this season is one of inconsistency. It's the one thing we seem to be able to count on, unfortunately.

 

got it. but still nothing would make my basketball season but to see he gets his walking papers. i do not care if he remains in the org. i just want to see a REAL coach (maybe van gundy or fratello) who will be in the players face if they do not play to their ability and do not follow the game plan.

really!!! enough of the excuses. this team is on the rebuilding process in the last 3 season. rudy got more than enough chances. give someone else a chance.

i do not care if they continue to lose. i just want NEW style of play, new system and new direction. obviously, rudy's system does not work. if it does, they should have made the playoffs even once.

i had enough of rudy t. thanks for the 2 rings but you know, what has he done lately???

 

There is a rumor on Laker's board that Shaq will be out for tomorrow. Can someone confirm this?

http://boards.espn.go.com/cgi/nba/request.dll?MESSAGE&room=nba_lal&id=642362&move=firstThread

 

My prediction:

Rockets 99
Lakers 98

Mobley 33pts, 3asst, 3reb
Francis, 10pts, 10ast, 10reb
Ming, 20pts, 15reb, 3blk [/B][/QUOTE]


That's a nice set of numbers, but:

1) If Kobe keeps on burning everyone, LA might actually win a game against us this seaason;

2) The Cat cannot score 33 pts. without jacking up shots left and right. Plus 3 assts?. I will believe the Cat passing up a shot to make the extra pass to the open man when I see it;

3) Franchise will HAVE to score more than 10 pts. in a trip/doub in orde for the Rox to come out like roses after they faux paus on Friday against the Heat.

 

We LOSE BY 50 POINTS. And Yao is scoreless against Samaki Walker. And Francis scores 4 points. And Mobley misses all his shots. And Griffin has no blocks. And Mo Taylor does not get any foul calls. And Cato does not have 3 monsterous dunks. And Kobe has 51 points. And Posey will continue his bad shooting and unenthusiasm. And Glen Rice will come back and not score 20 points.

Derek Fisher is a pretty good defender. He can shoot 3's too. He's pretty strong. Hopefully Steve Francis doesn't leave him open often. Hopefully Francis can score more than 44 points with 11 assists and 8 rebounds.

Kobe Bryant has scored OVER 35 POINTS for 9 games in a row. Maybe Mobley and Posey might have a chance to stop him. Probably not...but maybe Mobley can get out of his shooting slump after being on Sports Sunday and outscore Kobe...53-51.

Posey or Rice? WHO IS STARTING? Well I probably think Posey. Posey needs to help others on defense but he can't leave Rick Fox open either. And maybe he can outrun Fox and get a bunch of fast break points. MAYBE he can actually make one of his jumpers or 3's.

Griffin vs. Samaki Walker. Great. The best matchup of the game. This will be a significant part of the game. Griffin will have to bring his A game against Samaki Walker. Samaki Walker can be a big force inside. Hopefully Maurice Taylor is HOT like he has been and can score.

Yao Ming vs. Shaq. Pretty boring couple to watch. SHAQ WILL BE AT THE GAME. I AM POSITIVE. Yao Ming will hopefully block Shaq 6 times in a row. Yao Ming will score 10 poinst. Shaq will have 30.

Lakers will win by less than 10 points.

 

the cat shot 8 for 17, scored 29pts against the lakers earlier this year, so he's capable of scoring 33 pts in a game. but, which cat, heathcliff or garfield, is going to show up tomorrow night?

 

Shaq questionable, Kobe probable for Lakers


February 17, 2003
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Shaq-Yao II might not come off as scheduled.

Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal is listed as questionable for Tuesday night's game against Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets at Staples Center because of a sore left knee.

O'Neal sat out Sunday night's 117-110 loss to the New York Knicks and didn't practice Monday.

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He is also bothered by soreness in his right big toe.

``It will be a game-time decision,'' Lakers spokesman John Black said.

Kobe Bryant also sat out practice Monday, but is listed as probable for the game against Houston.

O'Neal said he wasn't close to being 100 percent.

``I want to win the whole thing, not just win games,'' he said. ``I want to get right before I come back.''

The three-time defending NBA champion Lakers are 23-15 with O'Neal this season and 3-10 without him.

They have a busy week -- after facing the Rockets, they play Wednesday night at Utah; Friday night at home against Portland, and Sunday night at home against Seattle.

Averaging 25.9 points and 10.6 rebounds, O'Neal underwent surgery on his arthritic right big toe Sept. 11 and missed the season's first 12 games, with the Lakers going 3-9.

One of those losses was a 93-89 setback to the Rockets at Staples Center on Nov. 17. Yao shot 9-of-9 in scoring 20 points -- by far his best NBA game to that stage.

The Rockets also won a 108-104 overtime decision over the Lakers in Houston on Jan. 17 when O'Neal and Yao faced off for the first time.

O'Neal won the individual battle with 31 points and 13 rebounds to 10 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks for Yao, but the Rockets won the game.

The Rockets (27-24) enter this game with a one-game lead over the Lakers (26-25) for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth.

The Lakers won seven straight before losing to San Antonio 103-95 on Friday night and then to the Knicks. O'Neal had 21 points and six blocked shots but only five rebounds while playing 40 minutes against the Spurs.

The following day, he said: ``I'm doing bad. I'm hurting.''

A team physician prescribed Indocin, an anti-inflammatory, for O'Neal last Thursday.

Bryant, who scored 40 points in the loss to the Knicks, complained afterward about soreness in his right knee.

He has scored 40 or more points in five consecutive games to tie Elgin Baylor's franchise record and 35 or more in nine straight.

 

Francis will get his points no matter what. Yao will have his worst game of the season: 24mins, 0pts 0rbs 4tos.

and the spineless giant panda will be demoted to backup role since then.

 

It would be nice to shut down Kobe. I'm tired of all of comparisons to Jordan!

 

raytiger must be one of the fakers and a yao hater. he is making a fool of himself. disregard his rubbish.

 

I would rather have them out...because a win is a win. It is just one game, not the NBA finals or anything. JUST ONE GAME. and the Rockets need to win.

~~~BUT the rockets lost to the heat when they had Eddie Jones and Anthony Carter both out with injuries. So I see it that the rockets can lose this one even with Kobe and Shaq out...



DAMNIT...if only this team can make it to the playoffs!!! We suck against lowley teams, but if come to play against good teams. So we have a shot at doing well in the playoffs...if only we can make it there.

 

i want to see yao vs shaq II, so i want both shaq and kobe play. at this point, it doesn't matter if the rockets wins or not because the team is heading out of the playoffs.

 

how to beat the lakers:

the rockets' starting five: francis, hawkins, posey, morris, yao

on offense:
1. first 5 minutes, give yao the ball at the low post against shaq. let see what yao. if he can't score, bring in moT and take morris out.

2. move yao to the top of the key.
a) run the pick-n-roll with yao and francis. francis: DON'T settle for jumper even if they are open instead you take the ball right at the shaq's body and draw the fouls or dump of to yao when follow you to the basket.
b) give the ball to moT at the post against samaki walker and horry. if he can't score, take him out and bring in griffin.

3. if mobley in the game, run around and let kobe chases you. use yao as your screener, bring kobe into the body of yao. once kobe is out of the picture, wait for francis to pass you the ball for an open jumper. if you start missing, take it to the hole right at shaq. if he challenges you, dump off to yao. Please don't force anything.

4. posey, griffin and hawkins are forbid to take any outside shot 15 feet away from the basket.

5. limit the number of 3-point attempts

on defense:
1. yao should never leave shaq. one of the PF should move over to help if necessary.

2. yao should just fall when shaq throws his shoulder or elbow into your chest. just rub your chest when the refs look at you.

2. force kobe to the baseline and let him shoot the fadeaway and never jump into him, but reach out at his shoot hand. when he decides to drive, always have a man down low to cut him off and trap him in the corner.

3. if kobe has the ball on fast break, just send everybody at him. challenge everything even if you might be posterized. make him earn every point.

 

thanks for NY to cover our ass

 

I didnt want to start a new thread, but here is the "prediction" thread from the Lakers message board.

http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?topic=38047&forum=1&6

 

and here is the Yao/Shaq prediction thread from Lakersground.net.

http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?topic=38049&forum=1&6

 

lakers fans are jokers; they don't know a thing about basketball. nine out of ten of them said shaq is going to destroy yao, posterizing him even though yao stood toe-to-toe against a healthy shaq in their first meeting.